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Unlock the secrets of the Silk Road on this immersive journey across Central Asia. From Beijing all the way to Tashkent, this epic 32-day trip heads west across China, showcasing stunning relics, dynastic palaces, Muslim minarets, hidden grottoes and rock-cut Buddhist masterpieces. Continuing into Kyrgyzstan and to the heartland of Uzbekistan, be dazzled by Central Asia proper: the tranquil landscape of Song-Kol Lake; wild boar and deer around Chychkan Gorge; Solomon's Throne in historic Osh; and the superb mosques and museums of Samarkand. Full of warmly hospitable locals, spectacular expanses and constant evocations of a legendary past, this is the Silk Road at its magical best.

Why you'll love this trip

Follow the route of the ancient Silk Road, travelling in the footsteps of countless generations of nomads and traders

Discover the unreal, rainbow-coloured landscape of Zhangye, a UNESCO site that looks like countless pots of bright paint have been spilled across sandstone mountains. You won't be able to put your camera away!

Uncover the ‘other terracotta warriors’ in Xi’an’s Hanyangling Mausoleum, an authentic and more personal burial site that’s home to tens of thousands of buried pottery figures

Experience the unique atmosphere of Kashgar’s Sunday Market

Central Asia is a fascinating and unique mix of ancient Silk Road culture, Soviet influence and striving to redefine nations post independence. Geographically and for a time historically, it is the real centre of Asia.

The much-photographed Registan in Samarkand is one of the true pinnacles of Islamic architecture. You'll be wowed by the scale, grandeur and beauty of the monuments to iconic figures such as Tamerlane and the Persian influenced madressas, mosques and mausoleums.

Experience for yourself the legend that is Central Asian hospitality - there's really nothing like being welcomed into a local home or yurt for a meal, chatting with stall holders at bazaars or simply marvelling at the sights alongside locals.

Kyrgyzstans mountains are its monuments and its majesty. The landscapes here will stay with you long after the journey is over.

Marvel at the beautiful Song Kol Lake, where in mid-summer you may see flocks of sheep, goats and herds of horses watched over by nomadic herdsmen and their families.

Stay overnight in a yurt lakeside and live like the locals have for centuries in these portable, felt lined traditional tents.

Reflect on the important role horses have played in the traditional Kyrgyz nomadic life style while witnessing horseback sports like odarysh (wrestling on horseback), tiyin-enish (where riders try to pick up coins at full gallop) or kok-baru (goat polo).

Is this trip right for you?

Central Asia is a remote destination, perfect for intrepid travellers in the true sense of the word! You will venture well away from cities, right off the beaten track and be able to immerse yourself in local food, life and culture.

Accommodation may on occasion be more basic than what you are used to in homestays, guesthouses and yurt stay. Shower and toilet facilities will be limited in some places and non existent in others. While the comfort level won't always be high, the rewards of living in true local style in this far-out part of the world are immeasurable.

This is an overland journey, so there will be some very long days of travelling and driving, often over rough terrain. This can be tiring at times and will require a great deal of patience at others, especially at border crossings.

What Kyrgyzstan lacks in "sights" compared to the Silk Road monuments and old towns of Uzbekistan and China, it makes up for in alpine landscapes, opportunities for interaction with local families and plenty of time spent on the road or outdoors exploring natural surroundings.

This trip travels on overnight hard sleeper trains on sections of the journey. Train travel in China may not be entirely luxurious, but it's certainly one of the best ways to travel long distances and come face-to-face with the country and its people. It's the main form of transport for locals, so take the chance to interact.

Nimen Hao! Welcome to Beijing - the capital of the most populous country on earth. China's capital is quickly shedding its historical face in favour of modernity, however there are still plenty of places that give an insight into the nation's ancient past, as well as sights that showcase China's contemporary culture. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm today, where your insurance and next of kin details will be collected. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where the meeting will take place – if you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. Any free time today in Beijing is taken at your leisure, so get out and start exploring this vast and amazing city. It's recommended that you arrive a few days early to experience all that Beijing has to offer. Beijing's food is a highlight, from the famous Beijing Roast Duck to dumplings in a tiny backstreet eatery, there’s no chance you’ll go hungry here!

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Optional Activities

Beijing - Beijing by Bike Urban Adventure - CNY530

Beijing - Beijing Foodie Walk Urban Adventure - CNY360

Beijing - Great Wall Experience Urban Adventure - CNY900

Beijing - Beijing Insights Urban Adventure - CNY507

Meals Included

Catch the bullet train to Xi'an (approximately 5-6 hours). Once the imperial centre of China for 2,000 years, Xian is now a vibrant, modern city dotted with many interesting historical sites to explore. Enjoy a walking tour of the Muslim Quarter of Xi'an with your group. After the walking tour, why not visit the Great Mosque, one of the most important in China. This area has plenty of interesting shops, lively street stalls and roving groups of white-bearded men in skull caps. This evening enjoy some free time to uncover what was once the start of the ancient trading route of the Silk Road.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Xi'an - Muslim Quarter walking tour

Meals Included

Enjoy a free day to explore Xi'an at your leisure. Perhaps hire a bike and ride along the city walls, which are the most complete in China, or climb to the top of the Bell and Drum towers for impressive views. Perhaps visit the impressive Tang Dynasty Small or Big Wild Goose Pagodas. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is in a scenic area which also includes the Shaanxi History Museum and Da Cien Temple. It's very popular with locals, especially in the evenings when there is a nightly light and music show around the many fountains. The Small Wild Goose Pagoda is inside the Jianfu Temple and Xi'an Museum is also nearby.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Optional Activities

Xi'an - Bell & Drum Towers - CNY50

Xi'an - Great Mosque - CNY25

Xi'an - Small Wild Goose Pagoda - CNY50

Hua Shan day trip - CNY650

Xi'an - Karaoke - CNY100

Temple of the Eight Immortals - CNY3

Xi'an - Cycling on City Wall - CNY99

Meals Included

Today starts with a short drive to the lesser-known Hanyangling Mausoleum with a local guide. This is a Han dynasty tomb of Emperor Jingdi, a burial site that’s more authentic and less crowded than the Teracotta Warriors. Dating from 153 BC, the tomb’s a magnificent cultural relic, comprising of tens of thousands of buried pottery figures, the emperor’s tomb, empress’ tomb, burial pits, a ceremonial site, a human sacrifice graveyard and a criminals’ cemetery. You will head underground and walk through the pits, which have glass floors and walls that enable you to see the on-going excavations up close. In the evening the group boards the first overnight train to Zhangye.

Accommodation

Overnight Sleeper Train (1 night)

Included Activities

Xi'an - Hanyangling Mausoleum

Meals Included

There are no meals included on this day.

Special Information

Train travel in China may not be entirely luxurious but it's certainly one of the best ways to come face to face with the country and its people as it's the main form of transport for locals. We use hard sleeper class trains for most of our overnight train journeys. These are not as rough as they sound – compartments are open-plan, clean, with padded three-tiered berths (6 to a compartment). Sheets, pillows and a blanket are provided. Some travellers prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet. Safe, hot drinking water is always available. It is a good idea to bring a mug, spoon, knife and fork if you will be preparing your own hot drinks or food on the train (as these are not provided in cabins). Basic bathroom facilities with toilets and washbasins are situated at the end of each carriage. As toilet paper isn't always available, it's best to bring an emergency supply. Keep in mind general train cleanliness may not be to the same standards you are accustomed to. Food is available on the

Disembark after an overnight train ride to Zhangye, arriving at around midday. Check into your hotel and take an orientation walk with the group leader around this leafy town of temples and parks. The city was established 1,000 years ago as the headquarters of General Huo when he controlled the ‘Hexi Corridor’. Controlling this area meant controlling the lucrative Silk Road, as the corridor is one of the few ways through the Qilian Mountains to the north and the desert and peaks to the south. Zhangye is home to China’s largest reclining Buddha, which would have been visited by Marco Polo in the 13th century while he waited for permission from Kubilau Khan to continue on to the Mongolian capital. Relax with free time for the rest of the afternoon and evening as you prepare yourself for some truly spectacular scenery tomorrow.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

Today pack your sunscreen, hat and water as you head to see the unreal landscapes of Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park, where it looks like millions of coloured paint pots have been spilled across the mountains. This 400-square-kilometer World Heritage site was formed over 24 million - 100 million years ago. The area was originally a lake fed by rivers, which brought many layers of sand and mineral deposits. When the lake dried up the mineral elements oxidised, giving the lake its unique colour palette. The elements then eroded the lake into mountainous shapes and unusual formations. The result looks like an oil painting, with colours ranging from pink and orange to earthy brown. The scale of the formation and the swirling patterns of rainbow colours are stunning. Take a hike around this grand and magnificent area at sunset, and discover that every angle is a photographers dream.

Accommodation

Guesthouse (1 night)

Included Activities

Zhangye - Danxia Landform Geological Park

Meals Included

Today there is an option to rise early and return to the Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park for an unforgettable sunrise over the hills. Later at midday the group will catch a day train to Jiayuguan (approximately 1.5-2 hours). Jiayuguan was the last outpost on the edge of the ancient Han Chinese Empire, the last Chinese-controlled stop for travellers and traders before they passed into the uncertain and dangerous deserts beyond. While exploring the city you might notice the growing Muslim influence as we travel further west.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

Today explore Jiayuguan Fort and a remote section of the Great Wall, which you will either visit today before heading to Dunhuang. The Ming dynasty built a series of forts and towers in Jiayuguan to secure their hold over the area and Jiayuguan Fort, though restored, still offers a feeling of desolation as you look out into the desert from atop its walls. Here we visit a section of the Jiayuguan Pass, which is the western end of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty. Travel to Dunhuang in the afternoon, which is about five hours drive.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Jiayuguan - Hanging Great Wall

Jiayuguan - Fort

Meals Included

This morning the group can decide if they want to drive out of the city and watch the sun rise over the nearby dunes at Crescent Lake. The oasis, which take the shape of a crescent moon, is believed to have existed for around 2,000 years and is surrounded by Mingsha Shan (Singing Sand Dunes). Today you will also visit the nearby Mogao Caves, which house some of the most stunning Buddhist murals in the world, and are perhaps the greatest store of Buddhist art in the world. The first cave was carved out and painted in 366 AD after a Buddhist monk, passing through on the Silk Road, had a vision of a thousand Buddha faces appearing on the cliff. The caves were largely forgotten until a Taoist monk stumbled upon them in 1907. Currently there are more than 492 caves, most containing murals, manuscripts, and over 2,415 coloured statues. Return to your hotel in Dunhuang for the night and perhaps enjoy a drink at the unique beer gardens off the nearby night market.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Dunhuang - Mogao Caves

Dunhuang - Crescent Moon Lake & Singing Sand Mountains

Meals Included

Travel by private bus this morning to Liuyuan train station and board a day train to Turpan (approximately 3.5 hours). A transfer will be waiting in Turpan to take you to the hotel. Once an important staging post on the Silk Road, Turpan is an attractive oasis town famous for its vineyards, stone fruits, melons and the nearby Flaming Mountains. The Turpan Depression is second only to the Dead Sea in Jordan as the lowest point on earth. It's a small city by Chinese standards, but the surrounding area is full of interesting places. The country roads on the outskirts are lined with poplars and the lovely old mud brick dwellings of the Uyghur people, while the modern ‘inner’ town has shiny new buildings, spacious streets and public squares.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

Explore Turpan with your local guide. Visit the ruins of the once great Silk Road city of Jiaohe, one of Xinjiang’s best historical sites and one of the most rewarding to visit. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen with you as things will be heating up! During free time this afternoon, choose to join the locals socialising in the square, or visit the market tonight for all the flavours of the region and plenty of interaction.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Turpan - Jiaohe Ancient City

Meals Included

Take the last train journey to Kashgar, which departs between 11am and 1pm (approximately 24 hours). See mirages in the Turpan basin, then climb through a high mountain pass, switch-backing up the peak of the Tian Shan Mountains. By morning you will have descended down the other side into the Tarim basin, skirting the northern edge of the sandy Taklamakan desert, passing isolated communities eking out a living in a harsh environment.

Accommodation

Overnight Sleeper Train (1 night)

Optional Activities

Turpan - Emin Minaret - CNY45

Meals Included

There are no meals included on this day.

Special Information

While this is a hard sleeper train journey, the carriages used are often double-decker with compartments for four people. The compartments are smaller than on previous trains with little luggage storage space, so there is a chance that bigger bags will need to be kept on your bed. Sit back, relax and enjoy the journey to Kashgar. Much of the excitement of Kashgar lies in just reaching this remote city, which sits over 4,000 kilometres away from its nominal capital in Beijing.

Arrive into Kashgar around midday today. Once a frontier town straddling the crossroads of empires and trading routes, Kashgar is now very much a modern, fast developing city that continues to take advantage of its geographical position near the border of Pakistan and Central Asia. Far from Beijing it may be, but there are still plenty of signs that you are still in China, such as the country's largest Chairman Mao statue.

The once extensive Old Town is just about all but gone, with only a few areas still left to be demolished or rebuilt under the guise of it being overcrowded, with poor drainage and vulnerable to earthquakes. There has been a huge loss of culture with Uyghur families being relocated to newly built apartments.

The town's main landmark is the Id Kah Mosque and its surrounding square. The dusty old laneways are crammed full of shops, food stalls and Uyghur locals living a lifestyle virtually unchanged for a hundred years. Take advantage of the proximity to Pakistan by having a meal of curry and chapattis at a Pakistani café or play a round or two with the lads hanging out at the pool tables on Id Kah Square. Alternatively, you can get lost meandering down lanes and alleyways, stopping at stalls selling tandoori-baked bagels or mulberry juice.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

Kashgar's main attraction is undoubtedly its markets, which you’ll visit today. It’s said to have some of the biggest markets in Central Asia, and on Sundays, the main trading day, it can feel like everyone from hundreds of miles around has converged on the city. We first take private transport to just outside the city to the Livestock Market. One of the best known markets of it's kind in the region, it's considered a "must see" sight in Xinjiang. Watch the bargaining and bustle of local herdsmen and farmers as they buy and trade sheep, goats, cows and donkeys. It's a big social occasion for the local community too, as rural families gather to share a meal and a chat. Then return to the city to visit the Grand Sunday Bazaar, open every day but most alive today with traders selling all kinds of wares – rugs, hats, spices, boots, dates, ingredients for traditional medicines, auto parts, brightly coloured material for clothing, electrical goods, household items, you name it and it's probably here. Browse the market at your own pace and a free evening tonight.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Kashgar - Livestock Market & Grand Sunday Bazaar

Optional Activities

Kashgar - Id Kah Mosque - CNY45

Kashgar - Tomb of Abakh Hoja - CNY30

Meals Included

There are no meals included on this day.

Special Information

The Livestock Market we visit today is an authentic experience of a market where local people go to buy and trade livestock for breeding, meat or as working animals. It's important for travellers to be aware that conditions and handling of animals may be different from in your home country. As animals here are being sold for meat it is likely you may also see butchered animals in parts of the market. If you would prefer to opt out of this activity please let your leader know.

As we will be walking in areas where there are animals, please make sure that you wear closed shoes for this activity.

Say goodbye to your Chinese leader and group today, and travel onwards with other group members who are completing the Beijing to Tashkent journey.

Depart early morning by private bus for our journey into the seldom-travelled country of Kyrgyzstan, a nation that still embraces nomadic traditions and extends some of the warmest hospitality you'll find anywhere in the world. We'll be travelling for around 11 hours today, including approx 7 hours of driving, plus border formalities (which can require a lot of patience and plenty of waiting).

You will be accompanied by a Chinese Intrepid representative to the border and then meet your new driver and escort on the Kyrgyzstan side who will be with you until we meet the Central Asia group at Bishkek tomorrow.

We cross the breathtaking Torugart Pass (3570m) high in the Tian Shan, slated as the most exciting route into Central Asia - take note of the changing landscape between China and Kyrgyzstan - and drive down to Tash Rabat (3500m), a beautifully preserved caravanserai of the 14th century. There is very little public transport in Kyrgyzstan so to make the most of our time here we have a private van for our journeys. It can be a rough ride in places today and often gets quite cold as we ascend higher into the mountains even in mid summer, so make sure you bring some warm clothes!

Accommodation

Meals Included

Enjoy a full-day city tour of Bishkek. You'll notice a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere as you stroll around town. The centre of the city is Ala-too Square, which was known as Lenin's Square in Soviet times. Lenin used to stand in his concrete overcoat in the middle of this square, proudly gesturing towards the mountains. For those interested in their Soviet memorabilia, a larger-than-life Frunze can be found still sitting on a bronze horse facing the train station, though his name plaque has been removed. You can also still visit the museum built over Frunze's birthplace. A nice place to watch the world go by is Dubovy (Oak) Park, where you'll find a few open-air cafes that are great to sit at and soak up the atmosphere over a drink. The century-old oaks here and all along Freedom Avenue make Bishkek one of the greenest cities in Central Asia.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Bishkek - City Tour

Optional Activities

Bishkek - State Historical Museum - KGS150

Meals Included

Drive 60 km to the 11th-century Burana tower, an ancient minaret from the Silk Road period. In the nearby village of Don Aryk, visit a local home. Reflecting the important role horses have played in the traditional Kyrgyz nomadic life style, the country is famous for at least four types of horse games such as odarysh or wrestling, tiyin-enish, where riders try to pick up coins at full gallop and kok buru or buzkashi, a type of goat-snatching polo. We'll take the chance here to watch the how the locals play the horse game here. Enjoy lunch with the family.

Continue to Issyk Kul lake – the second largest alpine lake in the world. This beauty is one of the biggest natural water reservoirs in the world, at 170 km long and 70 km wide. A combination of extreme depth, thermal activity and mild salinity means the lake never freezes. Next, continue to Kochkor. Explore a small local market in the centre of the village as well as local co-op that provides training to local women in traditional handicrafts.

Accommodation

Guest House/Home Stay (1 night)

Included Activities

Shamsy Valley - Burana tower

Don Aryk - Local home visit & horsemanship demonstration

Kochkor - Market

Kochkor - Women's Felt Co-op

Meals Included

Make the 130 km drive to Son-Köl, one of the largest lakes in the country. This beautiful alpine lake is considered a sacred place for many Kyrgyz people as well as one of the best summer pastures for nomadic herders. In the middle of the summer, you'll see nomadic herdsmen and their families watching over goats, sheep, and horses. Enjoy exploring your surroundings for the rest of the day. There are many beautiful lake trails to hike along. Alternatively you might like to visit some ancient petroglyphs in the local area, or visit a nomad camp for a first-hand look at nomadic life. Simply sit and take in this beautiful corner of the world.

Tonight you will stay in your first yurt of the trip. Yurts, made of felt and tarpaulins on a round frame, are the traditional dwellings of the Kyrgyz people. Sleeping arrangements are on a multi-share, mixed-gender basis with mattresses on the floor. It can get very chilly in the evenings, so there's a stove for heating and plenty of blankets. There are no bathroom facilities inside the yurts. Outdoor toilets are to be expected. All meals are included during our stay here. Those daring enough for an invigorating morning splash can use the lake nearby.

Accommodation

Yurt Camp (1 night)

Meals Included

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Special Information

Notes: The pass to Son-Köl is not open all year round. When the road is impassable, an alternative destination will be arranged for this day of the trip. Also in September and October, depending on the temperature, we may only make a day trip to Son-Köl lake if it's too cold to stay in the yurts, and we'll return to Kochkor for the night.

Today you travel along the gravel roads to the tiny village of Kyzyl-Oi squeezed between the mountains. On our way, we will pass large coal deposit and continue along the Kökömeren river which feeds the Syr Darya - one the major rivers of Central Asia that used to fill the Aral Sea. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the banks of the river in the shade of the trees and take some free time to explore the village once we arrive.

Accommodation

Guesthouse/Homestay (1 night)

Meals Included

Keep in mind that the roads in Kyrgyzstan see little regular maintenance, so even short distances can take a full day. You will arrive at tonight accommodation sometime in the early evening so expect a full travel day. The road crosses the Suusamyr Valley – a high steppe plateau situated at around 2,200 metres above sea level. The mountainous, lush surrounding landscape is dotted with yurts. Just when you think the road couldn't possibly climb any higher, you will arrive at your guesthouse for an overnight stay. The road follows the Chychkan river that cuts through the Tien Shan range. Stop here for a while and soak up the amazing scenery. Surrounded by mountains and rivers flowing below, Chychkan is simply stunning. Arrive in Kok-Bel and stay in a guesthouse again tonight.

Accommodation

Guesthouse/Home Stay (1 night)

Meals Included

After breakfast, drive to Arkyt Village (approximately 4–5 hours). This UNESCO World Heritage-listed network of nature reserves is located in the Sary-Chelek National Park, about 15 km before Sary-Chelek Lake. The reserve was founded in 1959 to preserve the flora and fauna of the walnut-fruit forests and alpine landscapes. On our way, you'll see some small dam projects along the river. After lunch continue another 10 km to take a boat trip across the lake. Stay in a local homestay and enjoy more of that warm Kyrgyzstan hospitality.

Accommodation

Guesthouse/Home Stay (1 night)

Included Activities

Sary Chelek - National Park

Sary Chelek - Boat trip

Meals Included

A morning drive (approximately 5 hours from Sary-Chelek Lake) brings you to Osh, the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan. Located in the Fergana Valley in the south of the country, Osh is often referred to as the 'capital of the south'. It is one of the truly ancient Central Asian towns, dating back to the 5th century BC. While you are here, be sure to pay a visit to the Jayma Bazaar where you might pick up an interesting souvenir or two. Also pop your head into the famous three-story yurt, or venture up Suleiman-Too Mountain ("Solomon's Throne") which looms over the lovely Fergana Valley.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Osh - Bazaar

Osh - Sulaiman-Too Mountain

Meals Included

This morning we drive to Kyrgyz – Uzbek border. After passing through the border (approx. 1-2hrs), we meet our Uzbek guide and transfer to Andijan. From here we will take a local train to Tashkent (approx. 5.5 hrs). Arrive at our Tashkent hotel in the evening and take a good rest after a long day of travelling.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

Begin you introduction to Uzbekistan. City sightseeing today in Tashkent will include a visit to State history museum, visit Abdul Khasim Medrassah with its hujra cells used as metalwork craft workshops to produce jewellery and other goods and Khast Imom Complex with its amazing architectural beauty. After lunch, stop in at the exciting Chorsu Bazaar to see traditional wooden cradles, handmade musical instruments, and the extensive vegetable and spice market.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Tashkent - Chorsu Bazaar

Tashkent - Khast Imom Complex & Moyie Mubarek Library Museum

Tashkent - History Museum of the People of Uzbekistan

Meals Included

Transfer to the station for the high speed train to fabled Samarkand (approx 2 hours). This city is located at the very centre of the ancient Silk Road. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of this ancient city on arrival. Inspect the remains of the remarkable medieval observatory developed by Ulug Beg, Tamerlane's (Amir Timur) brilliant astronomer grandson. Today, only half of the below-ground semi-circular track remains to be seen, together with the excellent small museum close by. In the afternoon we drive to the site of Afrosiab, or ancient Samarkand, and visit the Afrosiab Museum with its fine collection of treasures unearthed from the site, including the world famous 10th century frescoes. We check into our hotel in the late afternoon and perhaps go for a short walk before dinner.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Samarkand - Ulugbek's Observatory

Samarkand - Afrosiab Museum

Meals Included

Visit the great central square of Samarkand, the Registan. Continue to Guri-Amir, where Tamerlane is buried, to Bibi-Khanum Mosque and also visit the nearby market. Then we drive to Konigil village in the outskirts of Samarkand. A special lunch is served for us here by the family who set up a watermill here for a paper making workshop. After lunch we'll have a tour of this place and explore traditional way of making famous Samarkand paper from mulberry. Upon return to Samarkand we visit Shaki-Zinda ensemble of the Mausoleums. This unusual necropolis has monuments from the 14th and 15th centuries, reflecting the development of the monumental art and architecture of the Timurid dynasty.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Samarkand - Bibi-Khanym Mosque

Samarkand - Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum

Samarkand - Shakh-I-Zinda

Samarkand - Registan

Samarkand - Paper making workshop & home cooked lunch

Meals Included

Continue tracing the Silk Road towards Bukhara. One of the most important portions of the ancient route named Royal Road, this route connects two major cities of the area and takes us through steppe to the small town of Shahrisabz - a home town of Tamerlaine. We will make a stop at Shahrisabz, visiting the legendery Ak Saray Palace, Dor-ut Tilovat Memorial Complex, Dorus Saodat Complex and Kok-Gumbaz Mosque.

Then we'll continue to Bukhara where we will rest for tonight.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Shakhrisabz - Ak Saray Palace

Shakhrisabz - Kok-Gumbaz Mosque

Shakhrisabz - Dor-ut Tilovat Memorial Complex

Shakhrisabz - Dorus Saodat Complex

Meals Included

First, you'll visit the lovely Sitora-i Mohi Khosa, once the summer residence of the last Emir. Designed by Russian architects, it has lavish interiors decorated
with traditional filigree plaster, mirrored surfaces and delicate floral wall paintings by local artisans. Then your private transport takes you through the Bukhara oasis to the peaceful 16th century Chor Bakr necropolis, where you'll enjoy the simplicity of decoration of Khonako-Medrassah-Mosque complex that is typical of Bukhara.

In the afternoon, visit the Ark Fortress and Kalon mosque which is symbolic of Bukhara, then to one of Central Asia's oldest and most exquisite structures, the 10th century Ismail Samani Mausoleum, whose superb decorative brickwork has survived 1,000 years of rugged history. From here it is only a short distance to the Lyabi-Haus area and our hotel which is situated in the old Jewish quarter and decorated with traditional Uzbek crafts. After dinner, there's time to join the locals strolling around the area and visit some of the small craft studios tucked into the ancient nearby madrassas and trading domes.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Bukhara - Ismail Samani Mausoleum

Bukhara - Sitorai Mohi Hosa Palace

Bukhara - Chor-Bakr Necropolis

Bukhara - Ark Fortress

Bukhara - Kalon Mosque

Meals Included

Historically Gijduvan was one of the caravan stops on the way to Holy Bukhara. Local Sufi master Kholiq (Abdukholiq Gijduvoniy) made this place famous because the Sufi Order he founded here in the 13th century. A couple of centuries later Ulugbek – the famous astronomer ruler of Samarkand and grandson of Tamerlane built a medrassah here, just next to the grave of the Sufi Saint. This town has gained further fame as one of the centers of glazed ceramic production. Today, you'll be transferred to this small town and visit the private studio of a local ceramic artist, meet his family and have a master class with ceramic artists. Later you can have some free time to explore this small town and learn more about life of Uzbek people outside big cities. For lunch we recommend to try another specialty of Gijduvan cuisine - the juicy
kebabs of Gijduvan are famous throughout Uzbekistan! On your way back, stop to see the minaret from the late 12th century in Vobkent.

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Vobkent - Minaret

Gijduvan - Ceramics workshop

Meals Included

After breakfast, enjoy some free time for optional sightseeing in Bukhara. In the afternoon, take a fast train back to Tashkent and arrive in time for your farewell dinner with your fellow travellers. Transfer to the hotel and stay overnight in Tashkent.

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Important notes

1. A Single Supplement to have your own room is available on this trip, excluding nights in yurts, homestays, guesthouses and overnight trains.
2. As Central Asian immigration and customs officials are notoriously strict, please make sure you keep all forms for when you exit the country. A lost customs or immigration form could result in a fine or being detained at the border. You must also declare ALL currency when entering and exiting the country; keep all currency exchange slips or ATM receipts.
3. A scanned copy of the personal details page of your passport is required at time of booking in order for us to purchase your train tickets.
4. Overnight train accommodation on this tour is in 6-berth ‘hard-sleeper’ class. Bedding is provided and wash basins and toilet facilities (usually one with a toilet seat and one squat-style in each compartment) are available on all trains, but there are no showers or baths.
5. While traveling through mainland China you will not be able to access some popular internet websites.
6. As this is a combination trip your leader and group composition will change along the way. You will have a Chinese, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbek leader in each country. For the border crossing between China & Kyrgyzstan and for the overnight stay in Naryn you will be accompanied by an Intrepid representative.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.